Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Santa Preparing For Annual Trip

As the days rapidly dwindle down toward Christmas, a certain jolly old elf is quite busy.

Santa Claus, also known as Kris Kringle and St. Nick, is working on his last minute plans to circle the globe bringing gifts to good little girls and boys.

While everyone knows Santa fills his sleigh with toys for children, and the sleigh is pulled by eight tiny magical reindeer, few are aware of the detailed plans he must make to do this. In fact, St. Nick works very closely with local agencies to make sure his route doesn't leave anyone out.

Santa begins by checking the global weather conditions with his computerized satellite service. He stays in close contact with the National Weather Service during this last week before Christmas, plotting storm paths, seeing where the worst snow storms will be, along with rain, hail and other weather-related phenomena. Tornadoes cause Santa a great deal of problems because of the upper atmosphere disturbances the cause.

He also constantly checks his world-wide websites seeing which children have been naughty and nice. The naughty ones could wind up with a stocking filled with rocks, coal or switches, while those who are nice get nuts, fruits and small toys in theirs.

But one of the most important things Santa does is working with law enforcement agencies and governmental offices to make sure there are no last minute changes in people's addresses.

If a family leaves and doesn't give a forwarding address it makes Santa's job harder as he must work to find where the children are so he can deliver their gifts.

Additionally, some cities are in the process of upgrading their maps, as Gurdon is doing. This, too, means Santa has to stay in contact with officials so he can take the right gifts to the right children.

Gurdon Mayor Rick Smith, who has been working with Street Superintendent Jim Caldwell on revamping the city's street maps, said he is letting St. Nick know of the changes being made.

"It's a long, drawn out process," Smith said, "but Santa needs this information before Christmas Eve so he can plan his route."

Kris Kringle also has been in contact with Gurdon City Marshal David Childres, asking about who's been naughty and nice, and where he needs to avoid for safety purposes.

Childres, who has been working with Santa's security team, said this year's route should be pretty much the same as last year, as the trouble spots haven't changed enough to warrant a drastic reworking of the route.

He said Santa will be guarded by officers with the Gurdon Police Department to make sure he gets in and out of town safely and quickly.

However, the exact route St. Nick will take remains one of the closest guarded secrets anywhere. Until midnight Christmas Eve, only a few trusted officers will know which way Santa will enter and leave Gurdon.

"We're looking forward to Santa's visit," Childres said. "He's our favorite guest and we want to keep him happy."

Smith echoed this statement, saying the city will do everything in its power to cooperate with Santa again this year and make his job as easy as possible when he travels through Gurdon.

Santa, taking a short break to answer a few quick questions, said the boys and girls of Gurdon have been especially good, for the most part, this year, and should enjoy their holiday gifts.

"They've been so good this year," he said, "I don't believe any will get coal in their stockings. But, I'll keep watching, because I don't want them to cry or pout. After all, I'm getting ready to come to town and I'm really looking forward to seeing each and every child in Gurdon."

So, as Santa said, you'd better be good, you'd better not pout, you'd better not cry, because he's coming to town.

Santa also suggested the youngsters get in bed early on Christmas Eve, because if he sees them awake and watching for him, he may not stop at their house, or they may get that stocking filled with coal after all.